Airborne elevator apparatus

Abstract

An Airborne Elevator Apparatus capable of deploying at the same time multiple service loads at different altitudes in the Earth's atmosphere by physically separating tether weight carrier function from the service load weight carrier function of a common aerostat. The tether weight carrier function is performed by at least one airborne canopy assembly ( 20 ) filled with lighter than air gas, which has enough lifting power to support its own weight and the weight of the attached airborne cables ( 30 ). The service load carrier function is performed by several airborne booster assemblies ( 51 ). Designed to glide on the apparatus's airborne cables ( 30 ), an airborne booster assembly ( 51 ) filled with lighter than air gas has enough lifting power to carry its own weight and the weight of a service load at altitudes below the uppermost canopy. For stability purposes, the apparatus is designed to rotate around its vertical axis.

1. An airborne elevator apparatus comprising:
 a) a main platform assembly anchored to a ground or water-based service area by at least one anchor sub-assembly, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises a centrally-attached control house assembly and a circular platform assembly positioned above said main platform assembly, capable of rotating around said control house assembly, 
 b) an airborne canopy assembly having at least two airborne cables, wherein each cable has a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to said airborne canopy assembly, and with the second end attached to said circular platform assembly, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-rim, a canopy-hub, a plurality of canopy-spokes, and a canopy-envelope sub-assembly filled with lighter than air gas, wherein said canopy-envelope sub-assembly has enough buoyancy to support the weight of said airborne canopy assembly and the weight of said airborne cables, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly positioned to lower the center of gravity of said canopy assembly below its buoyancy center, and 
 c) at least two airborne booster assemblies for carrying and deploying at the same time service loads at different altitudes by gliding along said airborne cables, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises a toroidal shaped cylindrical body filled with lighter than air gas to develop enough buoyancy to support its own weight and the weight of a service load, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, and a service load bay sub-assembly, wherein said service load bay sub-assembly is positioned within said toroidal shaped cylindrical body and is attached to said upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as specified in  claim 1  wherein said circular platform assembly further comprises at least two winches to control the length of said airborne cables and the deployment altitude of said airborne canopy assembly. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein said canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly further comprises a stabilizer-rim, a stabilizer-hub, and a plurality of stabilizer-spokes, wherein said canopy-hub and said stabilizer-hub are connected by a plurality of rigid rods. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as specified in  claim 1 , wherein each booster assembly further comprises at least two cable climber sub-assemblies that are utilized to autonomously ascend, descend, or lock said booster assembly on said airborne cables. 
     
     
       5. An airborne elevator apparatus comprising:
 a) a main platform assembly anchored to a ground or water-based service area by at least one anchor sub-assembly, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises of a centrally-attached control house assembly and a circular platform assembly positioned above said main platform assembly capable of rotating around said control house assembly, wherein said circular platform assembly further comprises at least two winches to control the altitude of the apparatus, 
 b) an airborne canopy assembly having at least two airborne cables, wherein each cable has a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to said airborne canopy assembly, and with the second end attached to said winch, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-rim, a canopy-hub, a plurality of canopy-spokes, and a canopy-envelope sub-assembly filled with lighter than air gas, wherein said canopy-envelope sub-assembly has enough buoyancy to support the weight of airborne canopy assembly and the weight of said airborne cables, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly positioned to lower the center of gravity of said canopy assembly below its buoyancy center, wherein said canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly further comprises a stabilizer-rim, a stabilizer-hub, and a plurality of stabilizer-spokes, wherein said canopy-hub and said stabilizer-hub are connected by a plurality of rigid rods, and 
 c) at least two airborne booster assemblies for carrying and deploying at the same time service loads at different altitudes by gliding along said airborne cables, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises a toroidal shaped cylindrical body filled with lighter than air gas to develop enough buoyancy to support its own weight and the weight of a service load, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, and a service load bay sub-assembly, wherein said service load bay sub-assembly is positioned within said toroidal shaped cylindrical body and is attached to said upper and lower-ring sub-assemblies, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies further comprise at least two cable climber sub-assemblies that are utilized to autonomously ascend, descend, or lock said at least two airborne booster assemblies on said airborne cables. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as specified in  claim 5  wherein said control house assembly comprises at least one electrical motor driving a pinion-gear sub-assembly capable of rotating said circular platform assembly around said control house assembly. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as specified in  claim 5  wherein said airborne cables are light-weight multipurpose cables capable of transporting and distributing electrical power to all airborne assemblies of the apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as specified in  claim 5  wherein said lower-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured as a push-up or push-down propelling system for the said booster assembly along said airborne cables. 
     
     
       9. An airborne elevator apparatus comprising:
 a) a main platform assembly anchored to a ground or water-based service area by at least one anchor sub-assembly, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises a centrally-attached control house assembly and a circular platform assembly positioned above said main platform assembly, capable of rotating around said control house assembly, wherein said circular platform assembly further comprises at least two winches to control the altitude of the apparatus, wherein said control house assembly comprises at least one electrical motor driving a pinion-gear sub-assembly capable of rotating said circular platform assembly around said control house assembly, 
 b) an airborne canopy assembly having at least two airborne cables, wherein each cable has a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to said airborne canopy assembly, and with the second end attached to said winch, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-rim, a canopy-hub, , a plurality of canopy-spokes, and a canopy-envelope sub-assembly filled with lighter than air gas, wherein said canopy-envelope sub-assembly has enough buoyancy to support the weight of airborne canopy assembly and the weight of said airborne cables, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly positioned to lower the center of gravity of said canopy assembly below its buoyancy center, wherein said canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly further comprises a stabilizer-rim, a stabilizer-hub, and a plurality of stabilizer-spokes, wherein said canopy-hub and said stabilizer-hub are connected by a plurality of rigid rods, wherein said airborne cables are light-weight multipurpose cables capable of transporting and distributing electrical power to all airborne assemblies of the apparatus, and 
 c) at least two airborne booster assemblies for carrying and deploying at the same time service loads at different altitudes by gliding along said airborne cables, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises a toroidal shaped cylindrical body filled with lighter than air gas to develop enough buoyancy to support its own weight and the weight of a service load, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, and a service load bay sub-assembly, wherein each service load bay sub-assembly is positioned within said toroidal shaped cylindrical body and is attached to said upper and lower-ring sub-assemblies, wherein said booster assembly further comprises at least two cable climber sub-assemblies that are utilized to autonomously ascend, descend, or lock said at least two airborne booster assemblies on said airborne cables, wherein said lower-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured as a push-up or push-down propelling system for each booster assembly along said airborne cables. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said control house assembly further comprises a power generator sub-assembly. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said canopy-hub is large enough to host inside an airborne booster assembly. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said stabilizer-hub is large enough to host inside an airborne booster assembly. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said canopy-rim further comprises at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said canopy assembly with its attached airborne cables around the apparatus' vertical axis. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said stabilizer-rim further comprises at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said stabilizer ring assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein each airborne booster assembly further comprises an airborne controller. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as specified in  claim 9  wherein said upper-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured to rotate each booster assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis. 
     
     
       17. An airborne elevator apparatus comprising:
 a) a main platform assembly anchored to a ground or water-based service area by at least one anchor sub-assembly, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises of a centrally-attached control house assembly and a circular platform assembly positioned above said main platform assembly, capable of rotating around said control house assembly, wherein said circular platform assembly further comprises at least two winches to control the altitude of the apparatus, wherein said control house assembly further comprises a power generator sub-assembly, wherein said control house assembly comprises at least one electrical motor driving a pinion-gear sub-assembly capable of rotating said circular platform assembly around said control house assembly and implicitly around the apparatus' vertical axis, 
 b) an airborne canopy assembly having at least two airborne cables, wherein each cable has a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to said airborne canopy assembly, and with the second end attached to said winch, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-rim, a canopy-hub, a plurality of canopy-spokes, and a canopy-envelope sub-assembly filled with lighter than air gas, wherein said canopy-envelope sub-assembly has enough buoyancy to support the weight of airborne canopy assembly and the weight of said airborne cables, wherein said airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly positioned to lower the center of gravity of said canopy assembly below its buoyancy center, wherein said canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly further comprises a stabilizer-rim, a stabilizer-hub, and a plurality of stabilizer-spokes, wherein said canopy-hub and said stabilizer-hub are connected by a plurality of rigid rods, wherein said airborne cables are light-weight multipurpose cables capable of transporting and distributing electrical power to all airborne assemblies of the apparatus, wherein said canopy-rim further comprises at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said canopy assembly with its attached airborne cables around the apparatus' vertical axis, wherein said stabilizer-rim further comprises at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said stabilizer ring assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis, and 
 c) at least two airborne booster assemblies for carrying and deploying at the same time service loads at different altitudes by gliding along said airborne cables, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises a toroidal shaped cylindrical body filled with lighter than air gas to develop enough buoyancy to support its own weight and the weight of a service load, wherein each airborne booster assembly further comprises upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, and a service load bay sub-assembly, wherein said service load bay sub-assembly is positioned within said toroidal shaped cylindrical body and is attached to said upper and lower-ring sub-assemblies, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises at least two cable climber sub-assemblies that are utilized to autonomously ascend, descend, and lock said at least two airborne booster assemblies on said airborne cables, wherein each lower-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured as a push-up or push-down propelling system for each booster assembly along said airborne cables, wherein each upper-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured to rotate each booster assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis. 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as specified in  claim 17  wherein said control house assembly further comprises a main controller. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as specified in  claim 18  wherein said main controller comprises a power distribution controller to manage the electrical power distribution to all airborne assemblies of the apparatus. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as specified in  claim 18  wherein said main controller comprises a wire communication controller to manage the apparatus' wire communication for all airborne assemblies. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as specified in  claim 18  wherein said main controller further comprises an altitude controller to control the altitude of the apparatus' airborne assemblies. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as specified in  claim 18 , wherein said main controller further comprises a stability controller employed to synchronize the rotational speed of said circular platform assembly with the rotational speed of all apparatus' airborne assemblies. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as specified in  claim 22 , wherein said stability controller is also controlling the alignment of the vertical axis of all airborne assemblies of the apparatus with the vertical axis of said circular platform. 
     
     
       24. An airborne elevator apparatus comprising:
 a) a main platform assembly anchored to a ground or water-based service area by at least one anchor sub-assembly, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises of a centrally-attached control house assembly and a circular platform assembly positioned above said main platform assembly, capable of rotating around said control house assembly, wherein said circular platform assembly further comprises at least two winches to control the altitude of the apparatus, wherein said control house assembly further comprises a power generator sub-assembly, wherein said control house assembly comprises at least one electrical motor driving a pinion-gear sub-assembly capable of rotating said circular platform assembly around said control house assembly and implicitly around the apparatus' vertical axis, wherein said control house assembly further comprises a main controller further comprising a power distribution controller, a wire communication controller, an altitude controller and a stability controller, wherein said main platform assembly further comprises four high-thrust swivel propellers employed for apparatus' redeployment, wherein said high-thrust swivel propellers are remotely operated from an airborne command center when the apparatus's main platform assembly is airborne, 
 b) at least two airborne canopy assemblies positioned at different altitudes in the Earth's atmosphere, filled with lighter than air gas for buoyancy purposes, and carrying at least two airborne cables, wherein each airborne cable has a first end and a second end, with the first end attached to the uppermost airborne canopy assembly, and with the second end attached to said winch, wherein said at least two airborne canopy assemblies have enough buoyancy to support their own weight and the weight of said airborne cables, wherein each airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-rim, a canopy-hub, a plurality of canopy-spokes, and a canopy-envelope sub-assembly filled with lighter than air gas, wherein each airborne canopy assembly further comprises a canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly positioned to lower the center of gravity of the said canopy assembly below its buoyancy center, wherein each canopy-stabilizer further comprises a stabilizer-rim, a stabilizer-hub, and a plurality of stabilizer-spokes, wherein said canopy-hub and said stabilizer-hub are connected by a plurality of rigid rods, wherein said airborne cables are light-weight multipurpose cables customized to transport and distribute electrical power to all airborne assemblies of the apparatus, wherein said canopy-rim further comprises of at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said canopy assembly with its attached airborne cables around the apparatus' vertical axis, wherein said stabilizer-rim further comprises of at least two gyro-control propellers positioned to rotate said canopy-stabilizer sub-assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis, and 
 c) at least two airborne booster assemblies for carrying and deploying at the same time service loads at different altitudes by gliding along said airborne cables, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies are further filled with lighter than air gas to develop enough buoyancy to support their own weight and the weight of a service load, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises a toroidal shaped cylindrical body filled with lighter than air gas, wherein each booster assembly further comprise upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, and a service load bay sub-assembly, wherein said service load bay sub-assembly is positioned within said toroidal shaped cylindrical body and is rigidly attached to said upper-ring and lower-ring sub-assemblies, wherein said at least two airborne booster assemblies each further comprises at least two cable climber sub-assemblies employed to autonomously ascend, descend, or lock said at least two airborne booster assemblies on said airborne cables, wherein each lower-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured as a push-up or push-down propeller system for each booster assembly along said airborne cables, wherein each upper-ring sub-assembly further comprises at least two swivel propellers configured to rotate each booster assembly around the apparatus' vertical axis.